U.S. patent number 5,004,241 [Application Number 07/489,253] was granted by the patent office on 1991-04-02 for metal wood type golf club head with integral upper internal weighted mass.
Invention is credited to Anthony J. Antonious.
United States Patent |
5,004,241 |
Antonious |
April 2, 1991 |
Metal wood type golf club head with integral upper internal
weighted mass
Abstract
A metal wood type golf club head is formed of a metal shell
including a hollow interior having a first wall thickness. An
elongated mass is integrally formed on the underside of the upper
surface having a second thickness which extends into the hollow
interior of the metal shell locating the center of gravity of the
club head in a direction toward the upper surface of the club
head.
Inventors: |
Antonious; Anthony J. (Towson,
MD) |
Family
ID: |
26978040 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/489,253 |
Filed: |
March 5, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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311737 |
Feb 17, 1989 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/327;
473/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
60/00 (20151001); A63B 53/04 (20130101); A63B
53/0466 (20130101); A63B 60/52 (20151001); A63B
2225/01 (20130101); A63B 53/0408 (20200801); A63B
2053/0491 (20130101); A63B 53/0437 (20200801); A63B
53/0441 (20200801) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20060101); A63B 053/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/167-175,77A,77R
;D21/217-220 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
"Golf Digest" Magazine, (Dec. 1981 issue), pp. 57-59..
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Primary Examiner: Coven; Edward M.
Assistant Examiner: Passaniti; Sebastiano
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Aquilino; N. J.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
07/311,737 filed Feb. 17, 1989, now abandoned entitled Metal Wood
Golf Club Head With Integral Upper Internal Weighted Mass.
Claims
I claim:
1. A metal wood type golf club head formed of a hollow interior
metal shell having inner and outer wall surfaces and a first wall
thickness, said club head including a hosel, heel, toe, upper
surface, rear surface, ball striking face with a center of
percussion thereon wherein the improvement comprises:
an elongated mass integrally formed with said inner wall surface
and under said upper surface and extending beyond said inner wall
surface into the interior of said metal shell, said elongated mass
located between a point adjacent said ball striking face and a
second point adjacent said rear surface in a front to rear
direction; said elongated means and said metal shell having a
second thickness at least twice the thickness of said first wall
thickness, said elongated mass centrally disposed relative to the
ball striking face between said heel and said toe;
said elongated mass positioning the center of gravity of said club
head in a direction toward said upper surface and above and behind
said center of percussion on said ball striking face.
2. The club head of claim 1 wherein the inner wall surfaces are
void of additional mass in areas away from said elongated mass.
3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said first wall thickness
is 0.060 inches to 0.125 inches and said second thickness is 0.200
inches to 0.500 inches.
4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said elongated mass has a
width of 0.5 to 1.5 inches in the heel to toe direction.
5. The club head of claim 1 wherein said elongated mass is
rectangular in shape.
6. The club head of claim 1 wherein said elongated mass is formed
in the shape of an inverted peak.
7. The club head of claim 1 wherein said elongated mass is
trapezoidal in shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a golf club head having an
improved weight means and, in particular to a metal wood type golf
club head having an integrally formed weight structure within the
club head cavity and adjacent the top surface thereof. Conventional
wood type golf club designs are currently being replaced by metal
wood golf club heads formed by a heavy duty metal shell with a
hollow interior.
Although metal wood heads have been known for a number of years, as
evidenced by the 1926 patent to Dunn U.S. Pat. No. 1,568,888, and
the Australian patent to Cates 211781 of 1957, there have been a
number of improvements in metal wood head construction as shown in
the patent to Zebelean U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,549 and Kochevar U.S.
Pat. No. 4,502,687, among others.
More recently, it has been found that moving the weight from the
bottom surface of the club head toward the top surface creates a
club with more favorable playing characteristics under a number of
conditions. Placement of the weight near the upper portion of the
club head increases stability of the club head as it is swung, and
raises the center of percussion (CP) and/or center of gravity (CG)
toward the upper surface of the club head which produces a truer
flight path when a ball is properly struck.
The present invention is directed to a metal wood type golf club
head having an internal weighting mass directly under and
integrally formed with the upper surface of the club head. The
weight mass extends in a longitudinal direction from a point
adjacent the ball striking face to a second point adjacent the rear
of the club head, and is centrally disposed relative to the ball
striking face; that is it is above and beyond the center of
percussion (CP) on the ball striking face. The mass is relatively
wide and extends at least 0.5 inches up to approximately 1.5 inches
the entire length of the club head in the front to rear
direction.
Preferably, the thickness of the walls of the metal wood club head
shell are in the order of 0.060 inches adjacent the top of the club
head to a maximum of approximately 0.125 inches near the normally
thicker sole. The present invention contemplates using a weighted
mass having at least a thickness of 0.200 inches to a maximum of
approximately 0.500 inches.
This structure provides a club head with significant upper weight
which provides the various advantages described hereinabove.
Various embodiments of the club head are contemplated using
different size and shape internal weights. A further embodiment
provides the exterior of the metal wood golf club head with an
aerodynamic slot in the upper surface wherein the internal weight
is formed on the underside of the slot within the cavity placing
the weight even further toward the geometrical center of the
interior of the club head.
Among the objects of the present invention are the provision of a
metal wood type golf club head having improved internal weighting
system wherein the weight is located adjacent the upper surface and
within the metal shell of the club head in a longitudinal direction
perpendicular to the ball striking face. These and other objects of
the present invention will become apparent with the specification
and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view taken partly in section along
the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in section taken along the lines
4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a front elevational view taken partly in section along
the lines 7--7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view in section taken along the lines
8--8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a front elevational view taken partly in section of a
third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view in section taken along the lines
10--10 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a front elevational view taken partly in section of a
fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view in section taken along the lines
12--12 of FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a golf club head
10 of the present invention formed of a metal shell and having a
hollow interior 12. The club head 10 includes a hosel 14, heel 16,
toe 18, and ball striking face 20. In this embodiment, the outer
surface of the club head 10 includes an aerodynamic slot 22 formed
in the upper surface 24 of the club head 10.
The improved weighting system of the metal wood club head 10 takes
the form of an elongated mass 26 integrally formed with the
underside of the aerodynamic slot 22 and within the hollow interior
12 of the club head 10. The elongated mass 20 extends rearwardly
from a point adjacent the ball striking face 20 and in a direction
generally perpendicular to and parallel to the normal intended line
of flight of a golf ball struck by the club head 10.
Referring to FIG. 3, the overall thickness t-1 of the club head 10
is preferably in the range of 0.060 inches to 0.125 inches in
thickness depending upon the particular material used. A material
particularly suited for such club heads is 17-4 stainless steel
which provides a high degree of strength for a given thickness in
order that the overall weight of the club head be within
conventional weight boundaries. With the present invention, the
thickness t-2 of the elongated mass 26, which forms the unique
weighting system of the present invention, is at least 0.200 inches
or thicker depending upon the other dimensions of the club head,
and preferably is at least twice the thickness of the club head
shell at the upper surface 24. It is possible to make the elongated
mass 26 a greater thickness, up to 0.500 inches thick while still
maintaining the overall weight characteristics of the club
head.
Again, referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the width (W) of
the elongated mass 26 extends substantially in the heel 16 to toe
18 direction; preferably having a dimension of at least 0.500
inches and up to approximately 1.500 inches.
This configuration permits the overall weight of the club head 10
to be closer to the top surface 24 thereby shifting the center of
gravity (CG) and center of percussion (CP) higher onto the ball
striking face 20 and upwardly toward the top surface of the club
head 10. As indicated previously, the shifting of the weight toward
the upper portion of the club head provides more stability to the
club head when the ball is impacted, thereby enabling it to fly
farther for a given force imparted by a golf swing. It will be
appreciated that the width (W) of the elongated mass 26 extends the
entire longitudinal distance in the front to rear direction.
FIGS. 5 through 8 illustrate a more conventional type golf club
head 100 of the metal wood type including a hollow interior cavity
112, a hosel 114, heel 116, toe 118, and ball striking face 120. In
this embodiment, the upper surface 124 is plain in design which
provides a smooth aerodynamic configuration. As seen in the
sectional view of FIGS. 7 and 8, the improved weighting system is
formed by an elongated mass 126 integrally formed on the underside
of the upper surface 124 and within the interior cavity 112 of the
club head 100. As with the embodiment described hereinabove, the
elongated mass 126 is generally rectangular in shape, and extends
rearwardly from a point adjacent the ball striking face 120 to a
point adjacent the rear surface 128 of the club head 100.
As with the first embodiment, the thickness t-1 of the shell which
forms the club head 100 is normally 0.060 inches to 0.125 inches
thick depending upon the material used, and depending upon where on
the shell that the measurements are taken. The thickness t-2 of the
elongated mass 126 is at least 0.200 inches thick, and has a width
(W) of at least 0.500 inches to 1.500 one-half inches wide in the
heel 116 to toe 118 direction.
A third embodiment of a club head 200 of the present invention is
formed with an elongated mass 226 which is trapezoidal in shape as
viewed in section as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this embodiment,
the thickness (t) of the elongated mass is approximately 0.500
inches thick which provides a large amount of weight adjacent the
top surface, and which extends downwardly within the cavity 212 of
the club head 200 so that the weight is more nearly positioned
closer to the physical center of the club head 200. As with the
other embodiments, the weight extends at least 0.500 inches in
width up to 1.500 inches in width in the heel 216 to toe 218
direction, and extends from a point adjacent the ball striking face
220 to a point on the rear surface 228 of the club head 200.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 11 and 12. A metal wood type golf club head 300 having a
hollow interior 312 is provided with an elongated mass 326 in the
form of an inverted peak as seen in the sectional view of FIG. 11.
In this embodiment, the thickness (t) of the elongated mass 326 is
approximately 0.500 inches. As with the other embodiments, the
weight extends from a point adjacent the ball striking face 320 to
a point adjacent the rear surface 328 and also extends at least
0.500 inches to 1.500 inches in width in the heel to toe
direction.
In all the above-described embodiments, the weight is located above
and behind the center of percussion (CP) on the ball striking face
where a golf ball is normally struck. The location of the mass also
raises the overall center of gravity (CG) toward the upper surface
of the club head, and this improved weight configuration produces
more consistantly struck golf shots.
It will be appreciated that although the weight system of the
present invention as shown in the longitudinal, generally
rectangular or polygonal mass, the weight can assume any
geometrical form on the interior side of the upper surface of the
club head. Similarly, whereas the weight is shown integrally formed
with the club head, it will be appreciated that various removable
and/or adjustable weights may be provided in keeping within the
scope of the present invention as defined in the following
claims.
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